Frost Dates for 23888 — Wakefield, Virginia

Half of springs at Norfolk Rich, VA see their last 32°F night by April 6; only one in ten is past it by March 24, and one in ten still has one after April 22. Planting tender crops after April 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 22 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 59% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 1 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 14; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 9, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 210 days in a typical year, longer than at 78% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 230 days one year in ten and falls short of 188 one year in ten. On average 79 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 14 days longer, to about April 20, and return around October 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 94% of winters, usually between January 7 and February 5.

July is the warmest month at Norfolk Rich, VA, averaging 90°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 50°F and 30°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 68% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,647 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 93% of the 128 Virginia stations. 38% of them (1,749) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 911. Precipitation totals 49.8 inches a year, most in September (5.9") and least in February (2.9"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Wakefield 1NW, VA, 2 miles northwest of Wakefield, has a last frost 6 days later (April 12), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 30), a season 10 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Wakefield usually arrives around January 7, and the last of the season around March 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Wakefield 1NW, VA, 2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 80% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 34 days after the last snow.

ZIP 23888 is 2 miles from Norfolk Rich, VA, which stands at 112 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23888 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.